Epistemological Foundations of Concept Maps
As indicated earlier, we defined concept as a perceived regularity (or pattern) in events or
objects, or records of events or objects, designated by label . It is coming to be generally
recognized now that the meaningful learning processes described above are the same
processes used by scientists and mathematicians, or experts in any discipline, to construct
new knowledge. In fact, Novak has argued that new knowledge creation is nothing more
than a relatively high level of meaningful learning accomplished by individuals who have a
well organized knowledge structure in the particular area of knowledge, and also a strong
emotional commitment to persist in finding new meanings (Novak, 1977, 1993, 1998).
Epistemology is that branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of knowledge and new
knowledge creation. There is an important relationship between the psychology of learning,
as we understand it today, and the growing consensus among philosophers and
- 10 -Figure 5. One representation of the knowledge structure required for understanding why we have
seasons.
epistemologists that new knowledge creation is a constructive process involving both our
knowledge and our emotions or the drive to create new meanings and new ways to
represent these meanings. Learners struggling to create good concept maps are themselves
engaged in a creative process, and this can be challenging, especially to learners who have
spent most of their life learning by rote. Rote learning contributes very little at best to our
knowledge structures, and therefore cannot underlie creative thinking or novel problem
solving.